We’re no strangers to hauling bikes on SUVs, or in Tyler’s case, on the Bikerumor minivan loaded with enough gear from Thule and Yakima for a cross-country tour.

Pickup trucks, though, require a radically different design. Wheel Wally seems a viable solution that doesn’t require you to pop a wheel off the bike to rack it. Wheel sizes ranging from 26″ to 29″ are supported, in both mountain and road, and Wheel Wally comes in two colors – black and white. Pricing is $100.

Three straps hold the wheel while four bolts secure the rack to your truck bed. If you’re off-roading and break the straps or the bolts, Wheel Wally sells replacement hardware – a strap set for $3, top and bottom bolt sets for $2.

Wheel Wally holds one bike, and many trucks can support two of these racks. Construction is of 3/4″ thick HDPE plastic, and they’re made in the USA. A sizing guide is provided on the website to check if your truck is compatible.

Comments

That thing looks big and gangly. I haven’t tried it, but like the look of the Rec-Rac truck mount.

Ripnshread - 10/03/12 - 11:11pm

Are those straps cloth or thermoplastic?

Ripnshread - 10/03/12 - 11:16pm

I just can’t see how I would attach a cloth strap to the front wheel and balance the bike. Unless their is some technique I don’t know about it takes two hands to operate a cloth loop Velcro style closure…??? Or, so I have to have a friction source like a bed-liner?

Izzy - 10/04/12 - 12:02am

Nice and simple

Whatever - 10/04/12 - 12:48am

Well, it’s nice and simple until you need your truck bed back.

Then it’s a heck of a lot of disassembly and leaving two bolts sticking through the bed rail that will impale your dog when you slam on the brakes. And PETA will not gain a bit of traction trying to explain to my pups that they should ride in the cab. It’s non stop whimpering in there with them; they make it crystal clear they have no desire to call shotgun.

QR above the bed rail is nice and simple.

Nado - 10/04/12 - 6:16am

Nice bike !

db - 10/04/12 - 9:02am

there’s an obvious lack of truck bed options out there and still can’t believe someone (thule, yakima) hasn’t figure this out. There needs to be an economical option that doesn’t require removing the wheel, keeps the bikes balanced, secure and doesn’t require drilling into your truck!

I carry bikes in the bed of my truck…and I find that they shake and flex back there! I can’t see how this could help but make that worse! As the contact point becomes the wheel and not the fork it would create even more flex points for even more swail effect. Interesting idea, I will pass.

Josh - 10/04/12 - 10:46am

+1 on the Dakine pad! People always tell me how it can’t work, though I’ve been using it for years without issue even on rough roads

Caliente - 10/04/12 - 11:30am

Dakine pad ftw!

Singletracker72 - 10/04/12 - 11:33am

I wish it were a clamp system no sure i want to drill the bed in my new truck …. Looks cool though ….

Singletracker72 - 10/04/12 - 11:33am

I wish it were a clamp system not
sure i want to drill the bed in my new truck …. Looks cool though ….

Typee - 10/04/12 - 11:52am

Complete crap… This is no more secure than say a Thule Insta-gator… but far more destructive and complicated. They’re just tryin to get their hand into the cookie jar is all..

Nothing to see here!

Oh, and on the Dakine pad.. This upcoming year they have (should have last I saw) securing straps that hold the bikes down to the toptube and spaces them out as well.

I use The Dakine on shorter drives/shuttling, and the Insta-Gator on the longer hauls which in my opinion is a FAR better option than this.. does not require destroying your truck bed & easy to load and unload your bikes (uses same mech as the T2 hitch racks)

Ripnshread - 10/04/12 - 11:52am

Sounds like if this product was clamp-on, fold-away, had hidden bolts, sat flat against the bed and included a just as unobtrusive rear wheel strap mount some here might like it. And need it.

jls - 10/04/12 - 12:50pm

Rec Rac is very good!

plebs - 10/04/12 - 2:31pm

There is a local bike shop selling that frame in that colour for £350. Please tell me not to.

Hey, it’s Wally, inventor of the WheelWally. Interesting posts. Obviously there are some strong feelings about what the “best” truck rack should look like.

Some benefits of our design:
-No wheel removal or wheel storage is required.
-Bike loading and unloading is ridiculously fast.
-We eliminated rigid bike connections and fork-tip stresses.
-Our system fits all standard 26″, 650B, 29″, and 700c wheel sizes.
-No adapters are needed when switching from standard skewers to through bolts.
-We use “infinitely adjustable” Omni straps that fit all road and mountain tire sizes.
-Omni straps are unaffected by vibration and have awesome holding power.
-Your carbon fiber frame won’t be damaged because there’s no frame contact.
-You can quickly install the rack “as needed” or install it “permanently” in the bed.
-You can open and close your tailgate even when your bike is loaded.

Some limitations of our design:
-Shorter beds may not accommodate your bike length.
-Drilling of 1/4″ diameter holes is required.
-The WheelWally is “ganglier” than a fork mount.

Comments on some of the posts: I never really considered drilling a hole in my truck bed to be that big of a deal. I’ve previously drilled holes for my lumber rack and my tool box and I did not consider this “destructive”. I do admit, however, that my truck does not receive the same love and attention as my bike.

Regarding my desire to enter the truck bed bicycle rack business so that I could become rich…pure hogwash…I already am rich.

Wally.

Seth - 10/04/12 - 3:42pm

I bet it’d be pretty easy to make a stake pocket holder for this thing so that it is removable, and there is no bed drilling for those that are concerned.

BTW, the Dekine pad (or similar)…looks like something out of “Deliverance”…Yee-Haw

Typee - 10/04/12 - 7:09pm

That’s good Wally! glad you’re rich! Now I don’t have to worry about paying for your federal assistance after this piece of crap fails.

I checked out the Thule Instigator and it really is better in every way. All of the features with none of the “limitations” other than the Thule is limited to a max of *gasp* 3″ tires!! Sorry, Typee sold me on the Thule!!

JimmyZ - 10/05/12 - 2:25am

my pickup came with accessory rails built into the bed, and a couple of cargo grommets. no way am I reducing that function to drill a hole. This rack would need to include the oblong nuts for accessory rail mounting, for it to appeal to me. Instead, I got a $25 cargo bar and some bungee cords to better secure my bike, for when I need the extra room I don’t have when I lay it down in the bed.
This design appears to allow everything but the front wheel to tip forward during sudden deceleration. Maybe an extra velcro strap should be included to engage the bike’s front brake and prevent tipping. Because the bike may have been straight before a sudden stop, but when it comes down, it will be whipped forward, and land on the bed rails. If the front brake is engaged, the bike can still whip, but it won’t go up as high, hopefully.

Singletracker72 - 10/05/12 - 9:45am

I use the Insta-Gator now also I drive a 2011 GMC quad cab … the only think i find is the with my Med 29er is it’s a tight fit for 2 bikes . I like this option because I could leave the gate open and maybe for three bikes in the bed instead of having to use my NV for that 3rd bike … Like i said though the drilling is a huge issue with me , I’m not drilling a $50,000 truck bed …. I’m also a shop owner so I you do come up with someway to install them without drilling I’d love to check out the product for sure ! Good luck !

We provide hardware for the Toyota “deck rail” system and the Nissan “utili-track” system. These “head bolt assemblies” slide into the track that is mounted on the front rail of your truck. No drilling is required for your h.b.a.’s.

We still require, however, that you drill 2 – 1/4″ dia. holes in the floor of your bed to accept the “toe bolt assemblies”. This is a simple “pinned connection” that allows for quick installation and removal of your WheelWally. Thanks.

eaahhhh…. too clunky.
@ *butt hurt* Wally
Come up with an easier was to secure it.. (three velcro straps is too much to mess with as I’m leaning into and over my truck bed)
Also, I don’t want to drill my truck bed nor do I want bit bolts sticking out when I’m not using it.

@Pragmatist – I assume you’re inferring that it looks like something a Cowboy would use?? Correct me if I’m wrong but Deliverance were hillbilly toothless mountain folk, not horse riding cowboys. No Horses involved, only pigs.

It’s Wally again. Just wanted to submit an update and respond to some previous questions.

WheelWally Omni straps are made of tough nylon.

If you plan to transport your dog, or anything else in the bed, the “head bolts” can easily be removed by hand, without tools. “Toe bolts” come out automatically when you remove your WheelWally.

Regarding the rear wheel jumping around or flying over the handlebars…this doesn’t normally occur… but it could if you were in an accident, driving on rough fire roads, etc. Therefore, we now include a “Rear Wheel Tie Down Kit” with every WheelWally. Please see our website: http://www.WheelWally.com

tony - 12/23/14 - 10:03pm

could it be possible to install the wheelwally not vertical but horizontal… and then op top of a toolbox, in a pickup?
So in fact your frontwheel is resting on the tap from the toolbox.

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